ron santo (1940-2010)
photo credit // mouthpiecesports.com
Chicago, IL -
Cubs fans today are mourning the loss of legendary player and broadcaster Ron Santo. Santo, 70, passed away last night in his Arizona home from complications of bladder cancer.
Santo's major playing career spanned from 1960-1974 and was a nine-time National League All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner. In 1990, he began doing radio broadcasts and commentary of the Cubs for WGN AM 720 and had planned to return to the booth in 2011.
Santo, a diabetic for most of his adult life, was instrumental in fund raising and community awareness for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For 32 years he hosted the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, which raised more than $40 million to support diabetes research, progress and continued hope for a cure.
"My siblings and I first knew Ron Santo as fans, listening to him in the broadcast booth," said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts. "We knew him for his passion, his loyalty, his great personal courage and his tremendous sense of humor. It was our great honor to get to know him personally in our first year as owners.
"Since he retired he was a powerful spokesperson for Juvenile Diabetes Research. For the last 21 years, his love for baseball and passion for the Cubs was felt in every one of his broadcasts."
Laura Ricketts, a lesbian and activist for LGBT rights and issues, is a member of the Cubs owner family.
The Santo family this afternoon released the following visitation and funeral arrangements for Ron Santo.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010
4 P.M.
PUBLIC VISITATION
HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL PARISH
NORTH STATE STREET AT SUPERIOR STREET
730 N. WABASH AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60611
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
10 A.M.
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR RON SANTO (LIMITED PUBLIC SEATING AVAILABLE)
HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL CHURCH
NORTH STATE STREET AT SUPERIOR STREET
730 N. WABASH AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60611
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ron's memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – Illinois chapter at the below address, by visiting https://www.jdrfillinois.org and clicking on "Donate Now" or by calling 312-670-0313.
JDRF Illinois Chapter
11 S. LaSalle Street
Suite 1800
Chicago, IL
60603-1344
Santo's major playing career spanned from 1960-1974 and was a nine-time National League All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner. In 1990, he began doing radio broadcasts and commentary of the Cubs for WGN AM 720 and had planned to return to the booth in 2011.
Santo, a diabetic for most of his adult life, was instrumental in fund raising and community awareness for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For 32 years he hosted the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, which raised more than $40 million to support diabetes research, progress and continued hope for a cure.
"My siblings and I first knew Ron Santo as fans, listening to him in the broadcast booth," said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts. "We knew him for his passion, his loyalty, his great personal courage and his tremendous sense of humor. It was our great honor to get to know him personally in our first year as owners.
"Since he retired he was a powerful spokesperson for Juvenile Diabetes Research. For the last 21 years, his love for baseball and passion for the Cubs was felt in every one of his broadcasts."
Laura Ricketts, a lesbian and activist for LGBT rights and issues, is a member of the Cubs owner family.
The Santo family this afternoon released the following visitation and funeral arrangements for Ron Santo.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010
4 P.M.
PUBLIC VISITATION
HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL PARISH
NORTH STATE STREET AT SUPERIOR STREET
730 N. WABASH AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60611
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
10 A.M.
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR RON SANTO (LIMITED PUBLIC SEATING AVAILABLE)
HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL CHURCH
NORTH STATE STREET AT SUPERIOR STREET
730 N. WABASH AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60611
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ron's memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – Illinois chapter at the below address, by visiting https://www.jdrfillinois.org and clicking on "Donate Now" or by calling 312-670-0313.
JDRF Illinois Chapter
11 S. LaSalle Street
Suite 1800
Chicago, IL
60603-1344
